Agenda and minutes

Appendix A lists those Tenants’ and Residents’ Associations (TRAs), which have satisfactorily completed the registration process at the date of despatch of this agenda. It gives details of the representatives of those Associations to be co-opted onto the DMC, in accordance with the constitution, together with the names of the substitutes.

Appendix B lists those TRAs whose registrations have lapsed. If a TRA wishes to register it must hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM), open to all members, once a year (with an independent observer in attendance). The Minutes must be sent to the Tenant Participation Team together with a membership list and a completed registered form.

The DMC considered the list of registered tenant and resident associations (TRAs) provided by the Tenant Participation Service listed at Appendix A to the agenda and those TRAs whose registration had lapsed, which were listed at Appendix B.

No apologies were received.

Jean Sinnott

The Chair announced and led a one-minute silence following the death of DMC member Jean Sinnott.

Turkey & Syria Earthquake

The Chair expressed condolences to those who had been affected and led a one-minute silence to mark respect to those who had lost their lives and had been impacted by the disaster.

Beaumont Walk Bid

The DMC rep from Beaumont Walk announced that there had been delays in progressing with the project that had been agreed at a previous meeting. There was concern that if the project was not completed during this financial year, the money agreed by the DMC would be unallocated. Officers agreed that the funding could be ringfenced and paid from the 2022/ 2022 DMC budget, even if the project payment was completed during the 2023/ 2024 financial year.

Hybrid meetings

The Chair asked for member observations around the DMC continuing to hold meetings in person only, or whether the meetings should return to a hybrid setup to allow online attendance.

After a discussion, the Committee voted and

RESOLVED -

THAT future meetings of GODMC should be held as hybrid meetings.

For transparency, the Chair declared that he had an ongoing complaint with Camden about the consultation around the home visits being carried out by the Housing team.

He also had an ongoing complaint in relation to the candidate selection for the Housing Panel.

No other declarations were made.

There was no such business.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meetings of the Gospel Oak DMC held on 1 December 2022 and 11 January 2023 and to consider the progress report.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes and progress report be agreed.

To consider the report of the Director of Housing Management and the Director of Property Services.

At this DMC round, members have asked for the report to focus on the monitoring and performance of contractors who contribute towards the provision of the Council’s Housing Services; an update on Landlord Services home visits programme and how vulnerable tenants are identified; a Housing transformation update and an update on the impending changes to the social housing regulatory framework.

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Housing and Director of Property Management.

After an introduction from the Landlord Services Manager, the Committee discussed the report and the following comments were made:

The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement clarified to the Committee that GEM were paid for completion of jobs and not per callout.

Many members raised issues with lifts in their estates and the length of time taken to repair lifts when they broke down. Members were also concerned with the number of repairs certain lifts required, with an example of given of 10 repair callouts for the same lift. The Cabinet Member for Better Homes said that there was an expectation for repairs jobs to be completed within 2 days of being logged. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to take away these issues of lift repairs and provide an update at the next meeting.

Action by: The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

DMC members thought that it would be useful if the system for logging repairs could flag repeating issues. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement said that the new system would highlight reoccurring jobs.

The Cabinet Member for Better Homes commented that it had been difficult to recruit experienced, high quality operatives as the industry had shrank. There was a lot of competition for experienced people.

Members from Wendling TRA and Ludham and Waxham TRA asked whether their estates still received hot water through the Royal Free Hospital, they had an ongoing enquiry with the Director of Property Management. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to follow up with a response to the enquiry.

Action by: the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

The Head of Property Services and Customer Services and Engagement said that a report would be prepared that would contain information about any plans to replace old heating systems.

Action by: The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement

A DMC member asked about the plans for moving the telephone service away from analogue. They wanted to know if Camden were going to ask the new provider to update the system so that the costs would not be taken on by Camden. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement commented that the service was still in the procurement process but agreed to take away and provide a response.

Action by: the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement.

The DMC were concerned with the impact of damp and mould on residents, particularly those who were vulnerable. The Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement agreed to bring an update on damp and mould to the next meeting.

Action by: the Head of Property Customer Services and Engagement.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Report of Landlord Services.

In line with the DMC funding guidelines, TRAs will be asked to provide an update to the meeting regarding the progress of agreed bids, including an update on the associated spend. TRAs are invited to circulate any relevant information in advance through the clerk.

TRAs are encouraged to submit bids as soon as possible, so they can be properly assessed and prepared by officers, ready for submission to the DMC. TRAs are reminded that verbal bids cannot be accepted at DMC meetings as, in line with the guidelines, officers need to be able to assess bids before passing them to the DMC.

For more information on DMC bids, please see our webpages: www.camden.gov.uk/dmcbids.

Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Landlord Services.

Kiln Place TRA – new tables and planter

The bid was outlined by the representative from Kiln Place TRA.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid from Kiln Place TRA be agreed.

Mansfield Road TRA

The bid was outlined by the representative from Mansfield Road TRA.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid from Mansfield Road TRA be agreed.

Clarence Way TRA

The bid was outlined by the Tenant Participation Coordinator.

Members asked whether other TRAs that did not have TRA halls could use the refurbished hall. The Tenant Participation Coordinator said that this would be the case as and when negotiated.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid from Clarence Way TRA be agreed.

Kiln Place TRA – Gospel Oak children football camp

The bid was outlined by the representative from Kiln Place TRA. In response to questions from the DMC, the representative gave the following information:

·       The company that ran the camp was called Realm Sports

·       The money requested was to pay the coaches who would run camps for three weeks over Easter, six weeks over summer and also during October half term.

·       The company and coaches had undergone all necessary screening.

RESOLVED –

THAT the bid from Kiln Place TRA be agreed.

DMC representatives from Mansfield Road TRA and Cayford House TRA asked officer for updates on their bids. The Landlord Services Manager agreed to provide updates on these bids for the next meeting.

Action by: the Landlord Services Manager

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

Consideration was given to the report of the Cabinet Member for Better Homes, who introduced the report.

In response to a question about Camden officer working from home, the Cabinet member commented that as an employer, Camden needed to be flexible and have trust in its staff.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

To consider any local issues raised by DMC representatives.

There were no local issues.

To note the provisional dates of meetings of the Gospel Oak DMC for the 2023/2024 Municipal year.

·       Thursday 15 June 2023

·       Thursday 14 September 2023

·       Thursday 30 November 2023

·       Wednesday 10 January 2024 (Joint DMC meeting)

·       Thursday 7 March 2024

The dates were noted.

There was no such business.